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“Now that this has all been settled, I’ll make my exit. Try not to miss me too much,” I quip, wiping imaginary dust off of my clothes just to piss them off. I mean, it really is exhausting to have to do everything myself sometimes.
“We aren’t done here,” Nyssa objects, stepping forward, and I give her a scathing look. I usually hold her in high regard, but her display caused my blood to boil. The god of justice herself was going to attempt to calmly talk Phillipa down despite what she’s been known to do in the past to get back at those that she feels have wronged her. As though that would have worked with the foul tempered god of love. I shake my head in disgust, not bothering to give her a moment more of my time. She must interpret the look of disdain I give her since she looks down sheepishly, rubbing her bicep.
“I believe we are,” I say before turning on my heel and tuning out the shouts of protest sounding behind me. I have enough shit to deal with, I don’t need to deal with these ancient gods acting like petulant children. I push open the bronze double doors with both hands. Did I need to open both doors? No. Did I do it just to cause a statement? Of course. Any show of power I can use against these four would benefit me, Olivia, and my brothers. I stride out the opening, making it a few steps before thundering footsteps sound behind me.
I glance back, knowing immediately I’m going to regret it as I pause my steps. Osias glides out the doorway, pushing the doors further open on his way unnecessarily. Fucking show off. I mean, it’s one thing if I do it, but for him. My jaw grinds as I assess him, and he stalks towards me, gesturing further down the hallway, obviously wanting some sort of privacy for whatever discussion he has in mind.
“You know Osias, you’re going to have to let go of the obsession you have towards me. I’m taken now, by your daughter, my word, what would she think?” I let the amusement play in my gaze, but force back the smirk that begs to pull at my lips. I hate this man with every fiber of my being, and I take great pleasure in any moment of annoyance I can cause him. Clearly, I know his tastes lie elsewhere, as do my own, but knowing the fucker for millennia gives me a good idea of how to wind him up.
As I expected, he clenches his hands in front of him, as though seconds away from lunging forward to strangle me. Well, that makes two of us prick. Just his smug, pompous face makes me want to throttle him. I suppress the recognition that trickles into my mind, like how Olivia has the same shade of sea-green eyes. I blink the thought away, not wanting to see the similarities that lie between the two of them.
“I want you to stay away from my daughter,” he warns sternly, his gaze steady on mine, with no hint of amusement or an empty threat to his words.
I blink in surprise, my brow furrowing at his statement. Not a question, no, the leader of the majors wouldn’t pose such a demand as a question. He expected to be followed, his every word obeyed.
“And why is that?” I can’t help but let the bubble of laughter surface, bewildered that he could actually say those words.
“I don’t trust you. I don’t trust that you’re in this for the right reasons.” He straightens his suit, bolstering himself. “It seems strange to me that my daughter ran away from you all, and now you want to play the doting mate once you found out she’s my daughter.”
“You know nothing,” I growl, stalking towards him. How dare he doubt my loyalty to my mate, how dare he doubt my intention. He has no idea what happened, no idea what events led up to that moment.
“You’re up to something, and I won’t let Liv be a pawn in your game. I won’t let you use her against me,” he states calmly, undeterred by my anger. I imagine the catastrophe the explosion between the two of us would be. Sure, he has more powers, but I have no doubt in my mind that I could wield mine in such a way to overpower him. Unfortunately, I’ve never felt compelled to do so, not wanting to see the dire consequences of our battle. But now—now I’m wondering if it might just work out in my best interest.
“Of course, you’re only worried that others have found your weakness.” I turn on my heel, about to walk away from him when he catches my shoulder. He promptly turns me back to him, and I tamp down the urge to make his face more acquainted with my knuckles.
“If that’s how you see it then, she’s not weak. With the proper training and skills, she could be more powerful than you or me.” His gaze grows hazy and then blinks back into focus. “I won’t let you hurt her to get back at me. You need to figure yourself out before you pursue anything with her.”
His statement takes me aback. I expected him to command me to stay away from her, to cut off my balls if he ever sees me near her. But to say something so in line with my own thoughts—I brush off the uneasiness that washes over me. Not wanting to agree with anything that comes out of this asshole’s mouth.
“Trust me, I want her despite the fact that she’s your daughter, not because of it.” I scoff, huffing out a breath of disbelief. The nerve of this man. I swear his ego grows by the day.
“I’m serious,” he grinds out, as though each word physically pains him. “I won’t let her get hurt because of the animosity between us.” Osias scrubs a hand over his face, for once not hiding behind his usual facade. “I understand you and I have had our differences in the past.”
I snort out a laugh at that, differences would be an understatement. He gives me a look of exasperation, huffing out a breath of annoyance before continuing. “I understand I’m letting my own opinions of you cloud my judgement right now. I respect the mate bond,” he admits begrudgingly. “But I also know the dissonance between us will only hurt her. I won’t be leaving her life, so unless you are, you need to figure out your shit before you continue anything with my daughter.”
“Figure my shit out?” I cock an eyebrow at him in question, my lips quirking up in amusement. My stomach sinks as I replay his words though, finding a note of truth in them.
“Yes, if you want to prove that you have my daughter’s best intentions in mind, you should make her well-being your priority right now. We both will need to work to not be at each other’s throats so she doesn’t need to get between us,” Osias grumbles, and his face scrunches in disgust as though admitting any sort of fault physically pains him.
I pull my power around me at that, not bothering to deign him with a response. Letting the silent wind sweep me back to where my heart lies.
I squint against the sun that bombards my senses as my body forms in the courtyard. The columns of the academy’s entrance come into focus a moment later. I exhale a breath of relief at the sight, the tightness in my chest alleviating just with the implied proximity to my mate. My brows furrow. I viewed these marble walls as a tomb only months ago, capturing me within its walls and suffocating me until that last drop of life was squeezed from me. Now—now I see it as my safe haven. A place to escape the council and their endless debates grounded in nothing but ego.
Sure, everything isn’t perfect here. There is the issue with the council and whatever unfinished business Titus may have. But I feel a weight slide off my shoulders as I step onto the cobblestone path, a relief I haven’t felt ... ever.
Osias’ unbidden words float through my mind as I make my way up the path and towards the expansive pool that sits before the grand entrance. I skim my hand over the smooth water, watching the ripples move and subside. The cool liquid moving around my fingers, soaking into my skin. I lift my hands, and the droplet runs down my wrist to soak into the cuff of my white linen shirt. The remnants of the water leaving my hand chilled against the cool breeze.
I huff out a sigh of defeat, knowing that prick is right. I can’t continue moving forward with my mate when her father and I are constantly at each other’s throats. It’s not fair to her to be put in the middle. To have to endure the constant bickering and squabbling that I myself have to put up with during those meetings with the majors.
That truly puts it into perspective. Sure, I may be annoyed at those meetings, but I have no true long-lasting connection to any of them. But for one of Olivia’s mates and her own father to constantly battle—the emotional and physical toll would be exhausting. That’s not what she needs, especially now. She needs to focus on the trials, working on her physical strength and the control of her powers to pass and make it out of this academy with her powers intact.
I close my eyes, tipping my face up to the sky, and let the afternoon sun bathe my skin in its warmth.
Despite my wishes, I need to think about what is best for Olivia. If keeping my distance and working on my hatred towards her father is what will not only keep her safe but keep her power intact, that’s what I need to do. I can only hope it will bring us closer in the end. Besides, we have to get through this to get to our forever. If my momentary unhappiness brings her safety, I would make that trade a thousand times over.
I steel myself, bolstering my willpower before opening my eyes. The sun moves fractionally behind the clouds, mimicking the change in my mood. I felt as though there was nothing but sunshine and happiness ahead of me when I first stepped foot on these grounds. Now, that happiness is concealed, still there, but a barrier separates me from getting to it. Separates me from basking in its warm glow—or the warm glow that surrounds her, that draws me in and makes me feel safe and secure.
Walking up the stairs, I let each step strengthen my will. Despite the way my stomach turns, I know this is the right decision. I take the stairs one at a time, the weight of my decision having the same effect as the pressure of a boulder supported on my back. I heave my body up with each step, berating myself for how weak I’ve become.
